Most women suffer from pain during sexual intercourse at some time in the lives. According to a 2024 study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 7.5% of the women who have had sex had found sex painful. Although sexual conditions are very common, many medical practitioners don’t enquire about them due to time constraints and discomfort in talking about sexual health. Before learning the treatment for dyspareunia, you should find the root causes of dyspareunia clearly.

Top 14 Common Causes Of Dyspareunia You Should Be Aware Of

1. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Vaginal Dryness

One of the most common causes of dyspareunia is vaginal dryness that is a problem for menopausal women. In such cases, the dryness is caused due to a drop in the estrogen levels. Moreover, some sorts of hormonal contraception can cause vaginal dryness due to altering the estrogen levels. In other cases, lacking arousal before having sex can also cause sexual pain.

When the vaginal dryness becomes severe or accompanied by some other symptoms that show a hormonal imbalance, including flushing and trouble sleeping, you should consult a general practitioner.

For the mild cases of the vaginal dryness, there are several measures for women and their partners to try for reducing discomfort.

• Practice foreplay for a longer time. This helps women have more time to get aroused and produce vaginal fluid.
• Apply a lubricant before penetration.
• If these measures don’t help, visit a doctor for further advice & treatment.

Get more: Natural home remedies for vaginal dryness

2. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Emotional Factors

As you may know, emotions are deeply linked to sexual activity and play a key role in the sexual pain. And emotional factors are:

• Stress: The pelvic floor muscles have a tendency to tighten to respond to stress happening in your life. This contributes to pain during sexual intercourse.
• Psychological problems: Depression, anxiety, fear of intimacy, relationship problems, or concerns about your appearance can also contribute to reduce the level of arousal and lead to discomfort or pain.
• History of sexual abuse: Women with dyspareunia cannot have the history of sexual abuse. However, if you are in this case, it can be a factor.

3. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Endometriosis

In fact, this condition affects approximately 7% of women. It may result in pain during vaginal penetration and sexual intercourse and can be intolerable ^[1].

Endometriosis can require laparoscopic surgery; however, identifying the cause of pain is completely an important part of the issue. If you suffer from painful periods & pain during sexual intercourse and have female relatives with similar symptoms, you should consult a doctor to get an ultrasound screening.

See more: How to cure endometriosis pain naturally

4. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Chlamydia & Gonorrhea

Dyspareunia can be a sign of sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia. This condition is caused due to C. trachomatis, a type of bacteria that can induce inflammation in your vagina (leading to pain). In addition, it may cause bleeding during & after sexual intercourse and urination. However, 8 out of 10 patients do not experience any symptom ^[2].

Gonorrhea is another sexually transmitted infection that can also cause vaginal pain during having sex. Like chlamydia, it is often asymptomatic. About 50% of patients will display noticeable signs or no outward symptoms.

If you have a sexual activity and suspect you can contact with a partner with a sexually transmitted infection, you should test as soon as possible. Bacterial sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia & gonorrhea don’t cause noticeable symptoms in many cases, so people having sexual intercourse should also have routine screening regularly.

Learn more: Home remedies for chlamydia in men and in women

5. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Very few people love to contemplate poop and sex in the same thought. However, irritable bowel syndrome is another common and sneaky possible reason for painful sex. If you experience the most common symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome, such as cyclic constipation, diarrhea, and periods of intestinal cramping, apart from pain during having sex, the two may be linked.

You should talk to a doctor about how you may manage your irritable bowel syndrome. There are various ways to reduce the symptoms, such as changing your diet, stress reduction, behavioral therapy, and taking medication. Although no one knows the reason, it seems that when this syndrome is treated, the vaginal pain during sexual intercourse is better.

Read more: How to cure irritable bowel syndrome at home naturally

6. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease may also cause pain during sexual intercourse. This disease occurs when the tissues in the pelvic get badly inflamed and then the pressure of sexual intercourse causes pain. More than 1 million women in the U.S have an episode of pelvic inflammatory disease per year, which leads to more than 100,000 females becoming infertile a year ^[3].

The pelvic inflammatory disease also occurs when organisms causing the disease travel from your cervix to your upper genital tract. To get a proper diagnosis, visit your doctor.

7. The Change Due To Menopause

The menopause causes some changes in the vagina that involve more than lubrication, particularly after menopause is completed. In this period, parts of the vulva and vagina become additionally sensitive, which is a reason for causing pain during sex.

There are several ways to reduce the symptoms of menopause. You can talk with your gynecologist or your general practitioner about the causes and treatments for help.

8. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Herpes

Genital herpes is a cause of blisters and sores that appear on the cervix and around the genitals. This may also cause pain during having sex. When this problem is active, you should refrain from having sexual intercourse until at least 5 days after the condition has healed. Once more, you should also see a doctor and get treatment for help. While herpes tablets and creams may not treat the condition, they may aid in speeding up recovery.

See more: Natural at home remedies for genital warts

9. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Insufficient Lubrication

As you may know, this may be the result of not having enough foreplay. Insufficient lubrication may be commonly caused due to a drop in the levels of estrogen after menopause, during breastfeeding, and after childbirth.

Some certain medications can be taken to inhibit arousal or desire, which may reduce lubrication and make your sexual intercourse painful. These medications include high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, sedatives, certain birth control pills, and antihistamines.

10. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Yeast Infections

Yeast infections occur when there is an overgrowth of a particular type of fungi in your body. This condition typically develops when this balance of natural fungi gets upset. This leads to discharge & inflammation, which might induce pain during having sex.

There are several over-the-counter pessaries, tablets, and creams for thrush infections. But in some cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor for the prescription treatment.

View more: Natural cure for yeast infection book

11. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Fibroids

One of other common cause of dyspareunia is definitely the presence of fibroids. In fact, these are known as the fibrous tissue growth that may be present in the womb. Fibroids often don’t cause any symptom, but there are also some symptoms such as abdominal or lower back pain, painful or heavy menstruation, and more frequent urination.

The treatment of fibroids is successful or not depends on its symptoms, its condition, and the chance of complications. People who have the above symptoms should consult a doctor who may rule out other problems and give you a proper diagnosis.

12. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Allergic Reactions

As you may know, the skin in your vagina may be irritated if you suffer from an allergic reaction to a detergent, soap, perfumed tampons, maxi pads, or a douche product. Switch to using unscented products having fewer ingredients in case you suspect allergies can be involved. You should not douche your vaginal area because it may irritate the skin.

13. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Vaginismus

One of other cause of dyspareunia may be vaginismus that is a common condition involving involuntary spasms of your vaginal muscles. Painful sex is considered the first symptom that a woman suffers from vaginismus. While doctors do not know the exact reason, it is often linked to anxiety along with a fear of sexual intercourse. Treatment options include exercises that are focused on controlling & relaxing the muscles and therapy. You should visit a doctor for a diagnosis and available treatment options.

14. Causes Of Dyspareunia – Vaginal Itching

Urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and sexual transmitted diseases can cause itching & burning sensations in your vagina. Having sex when you are experiencing one of these sexual conditions can be unpleasant and cause dyspareunia. Yeast infections and urinary tract infections are treatable while most sexually transmitted diseases may be managed or treated.

See more: How to treat vaginal itching naturally at home

Above are the common causes of dyspareunia you should be aware of. We hope that this writing helps you to learn the causes and treat this condition fast. Once again, if you suffer from pain during sexual intercourse, talk to a gynecologist. To read other useful articles about sex & relationships, please visit our Love & Sex page.

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